The drivetrain is an integral part of your bike, as without it you wouldn't be able to change gears or move forward when you pedal. For the most part a drivetrain is made up of the chain, cassette, derailleur, and crankset. On single speed or fixed gear bikes there is no derailleur, and on certain modern e-bikes the chain has been replaced with a belt drive system. Taking care of your drivetrain is essential, as it contains all the parts of your bike that make it move.
The most important, and often overlooked, aspect of bicycle maintenance is keeping your bike clean. In this context it means to clean and re-lube your chain after approximately every three hours of riding. In a perfect world your chain would be completely stripped of all debris before chain lube is reapplied, but that can also be an unrealistic expectation.
Clean and Lube Your Chain
Use wet lube in muddy conditions, or in consistently heavy rain. Wet lube is highly durable, but is also a magnet for dust and grime so you need to more frequently clean your chain. Otherwise other parts of your drivetrain can become prematurely worn down.
Dry lube hardly attracts any dirt at all, but can be easily washed off so it needs to be reapplied much more frequently.
When applying chain lube, make sure you wipe your chain down fully before adding a line of lube to the entirety of the chain. Essentially, you want there to be one drop of lube for each of the rollers that make up the inner section of your chain. Once applied, the lube needs to be worked in by pedalling the bike for one full minute without switching gears. If you switch gears in this timeframe you risk lubricating sections of the cassette, which may cause shifting issues. Once the lube has been fully incorporated into the chain rollers, take a dry rag and wipe off the excess.
Waxing your chain is another option, and is generally considered the gold standard for chain maintenance. To wax your chain, it needs to first be fully stripped of all oil and grease, before being submerged in a tank of hot wax. The upfront maintenance time is a lot more intensive than just using lube, but will have longer lasting results and will provide a much cleaner chain.
Check For Wear and Tear
Ensuring your drivetrain is functioning as it should, means that sometimes parts will get worn down to the point that they need to be replaced. Most commonly you will need to replace your chain. To check chain wear, use a chain checking tool. If the chain shows 0.5% wear then it's time to be replaced. The longer you wait after that, the more likely other parts of your drivetrain will be affected and prematurely worn down to the point of needing replacement. Cassettes will generally need to be replaced after the full life cycle of two chains.
If any drivetrain parts show clear signs of wear or damage that's usually an indication that they also need to be replaced. One common shifting issue can stem from a bent derailleur hanger. The hanger is a wearable part that is meant to bend or break before anything else. Shifting issues can quite commonly be fixed by straightening out the derailleur hanger using a special tool called a derailleur alignment gauge.
Bike maintenance doesn't need to be overly complicated, and it definitely won't be as long as general maintenance is up to date. Keeping your bike clean and lubricated is the first step to ensuring you can ride all season, and not be stuck waiting for your local shop mechanics to fit you in. One more tip: always remember that the off season is the best time to get in for a tuneup.
Happy shredding!
